Former world No.1 Venus Williams has vowed to return to competitive tennis as soon as possible despite having nerves about the threat posed by COVID-19.
The seven-time Grand Slam champion has confirmed that she intends to play at the US Open should it get the go ahead in what will be her 22nd main draw appearance there. The tournament is set to start on August 31st and will take place behind closed doors for the first time in history. Players participating will be subjected to numerous COVID-19 testing throughout. A move that has been praised by Williams.
“Right now a crowd would be dangerous,” she said during a Q and A session on her YouTube channel. “I really want to play tennis and go back to work like most people. I want to do what I do well. I don’t want to sit at home and not have that goal of challenge.”
“If it is safe to play I really want to play at the US Open,” she added.
Williams, who turned 40 last month, is yet to officially lay out her schedule for the remainder of 2020. However, it appears that she will be heading to Europe to play on the clay after saying she was hoping to also play at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome. One of the two Premier events sandwiched between the US Open and French Open. Williams has only won the Rome title once, which was back in 1999 when she defeated Mary Pierce in the final.
“I hope so, right now there is a travel ban. It could be lifted, who knows?” She commented on playing in Europe. “But hopefully there will be some exceptions made for athletes. When I saw that Rome was on the calendar I literally cried tears of joy.”
At present the WTA Tour will officially resume on August 3rd at the Palermo Open in Italy. Then the week after the North American swing will start in Lexington. Although there has been fresh doubts cast on American tournaments after one report claims the Citi Open in Washington could be cancelled this week.
The COVID threat
Whilst Williams is eager to return back to competition, she admits to having some anxiety about travelling during a pandemic given her health. She suffers from Sjogren’s syndrome, which is an auto-immune disease. It has been reported that some people with auto-immune diseases could be more vulnerable to the COVID-19 disease.
“In the beginning I wasn’t afraid (of catching COVID-19). I made up my mind that I’m not getting it, mind over matter.” Williams explained. “I was really serious about self-isolation and lately I’m more than anything afraid of being asymptomatic. That’s my biggest fear right now and not being able to play.”
“When you venture out to the world and play tennis you do start to get nervous about that. I’m a person with a pre-existing condition and I need to be more careful than most people. Am I nervous? In the last few days, yes but before no.”
Despite the inevitable nerves during what is an uncertain time, Williams has vowed to return to the doubles court alongside her sister Serena in the future. Together the duo has won 22 WTA titles with 14 of those being in the majors. Making them joint-second most successful women’s doubles pairing in Grand Slam history.
“I can’t wait to play doubles with Serena. We just have had a blast at the doubles court. We have got a lot of success,” Williams stated. “I noticed that the thing I missed the most is playing doubles. I am looking forward to joining her on the doubles court and I just don’t care whom I play against. Who’s across the net, as long as there’s a net and there’s a match. Right?”
